Lynn Ischay / The Plain DealerJerzy Glica, a Cleveland Institute of Art student, describes his idea for a see-through box that allows close-up viewing of the fascinating objects kids find.

Dare to dream up a toy that will pull kids away from the computer screen and entice them outside to play. That was the task handed to industrial design students at Cleveland Institute of Art eight weeks ago -- along with a copy of "The Daring Book for Girls," a best seller that helps girls discover the fun of adventurous play.

On Thursday May 1, it was time for students to show their work. And an all-star panel was there to look over their projects.

"Daring Book" co-author Andrea Buchanan visited Cleveland and gave the students her perspective as an author but also as a mom of a young son and daughter.

And three designers from Hudson-based Little Tikes toy company brought their real-world experience to the judging, prodding students to consider the packaging, promotion and overall practicality of the ideas.

Student ideas ranged from the Sand and Seabox, a reconfigurable plastic tray that "lets you play with sand and water in the same place," to the Bonkers Bouncer, a golf bag-shaped toy that kids can slide their feet into, then grasp the handles and jump up and down on a spring-like base.

Design students were instructed to talk to friends and relatives with young children and to think about their own childhood experiences to spark their imaginations.

Sophomore Jerzy Glica, who grew up on a farm where he collected bugs, rocks and other oddities, came up with a see-through container that kids can use to display and share their curious findings.

Judges liked his innovative idea, which featured a hook so it could ride on a belt and a light to better see the contents.

Aaron Drake drew compliments for an obstacle-course kit filled with plastic logs and rocks, plus foam pads to serve as steppingstones. He said his inspiration came from memories of childhood, when he pretended to jump through hot lava or across a log ladder. "I always thought that was a fun, open-ended game you could play anywhere."

Immediately, someone suggested that it could have an Indiana Jones tie-in. Judges agreed it had "great theme potential."

Buchanan, a mother of two who lives in Philadelphia, liked Drake's idea for its adventurous, outdoorsy quality. "You could have this in a city apartment, really," she told him.

Little Tikes partnered with the art institute to sponsor the student project. Jeff Gatto, a principal designer at the toy company, said the collaboration was a good fit, given that Little Tikes' familiar colorful plastic toys are designed to foster active play. "We're one of the few companies still around that doesn't rely on computers and batteries," he said.

Yet Little Tikes has been in financial trouble in recent years and laid off 50 workers at its Hudson plant in 2007.

For Little Tikes, it could be a favorable sign that "The Daring Book for Girls" quickly became a best seller last year. The how-to book explains dozens of old-time fun activities for girls, such as double dutch, cats cradles and the perfect cartwheel, plus information on what boys are thinking and stories about brave women in history. The book was a spinoff of "The Dangerous Book for Boys" by Conn and Hal Iggulden.

Finally, parents are realizing they've got to stimulate imagination in their kids, Buchanan said. "I think parents, especially parents of girls, are really looking for this sort of thing," she said.

They're realizing that girls shouldn't have to act like "mini grown-ups," she said. "It's about being a kid."

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